The number of students enrolling for higher education appears to have jumped by 65% in 4 years according to a recent survey done by the HRD ministry. The gross enrollment ratio (GER) for higher education has shot up from 12.4 to 20.2. GER is a measure of the percentage of the relevant age group that is enrolled. “The results of the survey are tentative and not firm, but if validated, they are very encouraging,” said Kapil Sibal, HRD Minister.

The HRD Minister said that the ratio for developed countries is in the region of 35-40. The survey results show that we are getting there. If they hold, we can expect the ratio to go up to 30-35 by 2029. The difference in the GER is often the difference between developed and developing countries. “The gross turnover of ideas, generated by the university system, is the real wealth of nations – often more valuable than GDP,” the Minister said.